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mate's boat） on our cruise around the coast； looking for seal。 In
this business we were occupied about three weeks； examining with
great care every nook and corner； not only of Kerguelen's Land； but
of the several small islands in the vicinity。 Our labours； however；
were not crowned with any important success。 We saw a great many fur
seal； but they were exceedingly shy； and with the greatest exertions；
we could only procure three hundred and fifty skins in all。 Sea
elephants were abundant； especially on the western coast of the
mainland； but of these we killed only twenty； and this with great
difficulty。 On the smaller islands we discovered a good many of the
hair seal； but did not molest them。 We returned to the schooner： on
the eleventh； where we found Captain Guy and his nephew； who gave a
very bad account of the interior； representing it as one of the most
dreary and utterly barren countries in the world。 They had remained
two nights on the island； owing to some misunderstanding； on the part
of the second mate； in regard to the sending a jollyboat from the
schooner to take them off。
~~~ End of Text of Chapter 14 ~~~
CHAPTER 15
ON the twelfth we made sail from Christmas Harbour retracing our
way to the westward； and leaving Marion's Island； one of Crozet's
group； on the larboard。 We afterward passed Prince Edward's Island；
leaving it also on our left； then； steering more to the northward；
made； in fifteen days； the islands of Tristan d'Acunha； in latitude
37 degrees 8' S； longitude 12 degrees 8' W。
This group； now so well known； and which consists of three
circular islands； was first discovered by the Portuguese； and was
visited afterward by the Dutch in 1643； and by the French in 1767。
The three islands together form a triangle； and are distant from each
other about ten miles； there being fine open passages between。 The
land in all of them is very high； especially in Tristan d'Acunha；
properly so called。 This is the largest of the group； being fifteen
miles in circumference； and so elevated that it can be seen in clear
weather at the distance of eighty or ninety miles。 A part of the land
toward the north rises more than a thousand feet perpendicularly from
the sea。 A tableland at this height extends back nearly to the centre
of the island； and from this tableland arises a lofty cone like that
of Teneriffe。 The lower half of this cone is clothed with trees of
good size； but the upper region is barren rock； usually hidden among
the clouds； and covered with snow during the greater part of the
year。 There are no shoals or other dangers about the island； the
shores being remarkably bold and the water deep。 On the northwestern
coast is a bay； with a beach of black sand where a landing with boats
can be easily effected； provided there be a southerly wind。 Plenty of
excellent water may here be readily procured； also cod and other fish
may be taken with hook and line。
The next island in point of size； and the most westwardly of the
group； is that called the Inaccessible。 Its precise situation is 37
degrees 17' S。 latitude； longitude 12 degrees 24' W。 It is seven or
eight miles in circumference； and on all sides presents a forbidding
and precipitous aspect。 Its top is perfectly flat； and the whole
region is sterile； nothing growing upon it except a few stunted
shrubs。
Nightingale Island； the smallest and most southerly； is in
latitude 37 degrees 26' S。； longitude 12 degrees 12' W。 Off its
southern extremity is a high ledge of rocky islets； a few also of a
similar appearance are seen to the northeast。 The ground is irregular
and sterile； and a deep valley partially separates it。
The shores of these islands abound； in the proper season； with
sea lions； sea elephants； the hair and fur seal； together with a
great variety of oceanic birds。 Whales are also plenty in their
vicinity。 Owing to the ease with which these various animals were
here formerly taken； the group has been much visited since its
discovery。 The Dutch and French frequented it at a very early period。
In 1790； Captain Patten； of the ship Industry； of Philadelphia； made
Tristan d'Acunha； where he remained seven months （from August； 1790；
to April； 1791） for the purpose of collecting sealskins。 In this time
he gathered no less than five thousand six hundred； and says that he
would have had no difficulty in loading a large ship with oil in
three weeks。 Upon his arrival he found no quadrupeds； with the
exception of a few wild goats； the island now abounds with all our
most valuable domestic animals； which have been introduced by
subsequent navigators。
I believe it was not long after Captain Patten's visit that
Captain Colquhoun； of the American brig Betsey； touched at the
largest of the islands for the purpose of refreshment。 He planted
onions； potatoes； cabbages； and a great many other vegetables； an
abundance of all which is now to be met with。
In 1811； a Captain Haywood； in the Nereus； visited Tristan。 He
found there three Americans； who were residing upon the island to
prepare sealskins and oil。 One of these men was named Jonathan
Lambert； and he called himself the sovereign of the country。 He had
cleared and cultivated about sixty acres of land； and turned his
attention to raising the coffee…plant and sugar…cane； with which he
had been furnished by the American Minister at Rio Janeiro。 This
settlement； however； was finally abandoned； and in 1817 the islands
were taken possession of by the British Government； who sent a
detachment for that purpose from the Cape of Good Hope。 They did not；
however； retain them long； but； upon the evacuation of the country as
a British possession； two or three English families took up their
residence there independently of the Government。 On the twenty…fifth
of March； 1824； the Berwick； Captain Jeffrey； from London to Van
Diemen's Land； arrived at the place； where they found an Englishman
of the name of Glass； formerly a corporal in the British artillery。
He claimed to be supreme governor of the islands； and had under his
control twenty…one men and three women。 He gave a very favourable
account of the salubrity of the climate and of the productiveness of
the soil。 The population occupied themselves chiefly in collecting
sealskins and sea elephant oil； with which they traded to the Cape of
Good Hope； Glass owning a small schooner。 At the period of our
arrival the governor was still a resident； but his little community
had multiplied； there being fifty…six persons upon Tristan； besides a
smaller settlement of seven on Nightingale Island。 We had no
difficulty in procuring almost every kind of refreshment which we
required… sheep； hogs； bullocks； rabbits； poultry； goats； fish in
great variety； and vegetables were abundant。 Having come to anchor
close in with the large island； in eighteen fathoms； we took all we
wanted on board very conveniently。 Captain Guy also purchased of
Glass five hundred sealskins and some ivory。 We remained here a week；
during which the prevailing winds were from the northward and
westward； and the weather somewhat hazy。 On the fifth of November we
made sail to the so